Real Estate Talk:
Movers and junk removal

A good broker can be a great reference for service providers

By Joseph Marovitch

December 11, 2025

A good broker will not only sell a client’s property and find a new one to purchase, but also provide services to make the process easier. If the client requires an inspector, mortgage broker, surveyor, contractor, or mover, the broker should have the names and numbers of providers they have used and recommended in the past readily available.

My wife and I recently moved, and we used Busta-Move for the second time. I have referred this company to clients in the past because our personal experience was so good. The price was reasonable, and the three movers were exceptional, polite and professional. They moved us in record time and everything in one piece. The movers disassembled what had to be taken apart, carefully wrapped everything, and reassembled it all at our new home. They were experienced, trained, and provided insurance for all our items, and the second experience was as pleasurable as the first. The type of service Busta Move provided does not just happen. One can have a terrible experience if the mover is not properly vetted.

Here are a few recommendations to properly vet a mover:

• First, if you have a good broker you trust, ask the broker to recommend a mover. This saves time.
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  Otherwise, upon contacting a mover:
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• Go online or speak to previous clients to get references for the company to be considered.
• Make sure the moving company has insurance against damages.
• Acquire the rates, payment terms and service in advance in writing.
• Check if the moving company is a member of the Canadian Association of Movers (CAM).
• Ask how long the company has been in business.
• Check at least three movers for rates, service, and references – compare.
• Sometimes a deposit is required, but never pay the full amount up front.

Know that you get what you pay for, and good professional movers are a safe bet compared to your cousin and his/her three friends and a rented U-Haul.

On average, a move within the same city costs $75 to $150 per hour for three movers and a truck. Therefore, the average move is $1000 to $4,500.

Know that you get what you pay for, and good professional movers are a safe bet compared to your cousin and his/her three friends and a rented U-Haul. Novice movers can get hurt and never have liability or damage insurance.

Junk removal

Tracey, my wife, and I have bought and sold several of our own homes over the past 33 years. Each time we moved, my wife would tell me the furniture in our current house would not match the furniture in our next house. The first time this occurred, we decided to sell what was good and throw out all the junk we had accumulated over the years. If not managed properly, it is not so easy to sell items and get rid of others.

We first used Facebook Marketplace and other online services, such as Kijiji, to advertise the items. It takes hours to use these services. Tons of strangers end up at your door, and then there is the bargaining, which can be time-consuming and migraine-forming. The process is long and not so safe.

If you have ever seen the George Carlin comedy routine about moving, it was so genuine and terribly funny if you have not lived the experience. George Carlin stated that the process of moving is to accumulate junk and accumulate more junk every time one moves. We are so sentimental, many of us, that we find it hard to separate from our teddy bears and our set of teacups. So, if one moves several times, they can accumulate a ton of stuff to fill the basement, garage, extra bedroom and so on. The solution to a giant headache is to call a junk removal service to take your items that are no longer in use and that nobody else wants. The junk removal service will pick up your items, take them away, dispose of what is not useful, and donate other items to those in need.

There are several junk removal services in Montreal, such as You Got Junk, Junk Away, and others. These are excellent services, but a bit pricey. I do not recommend using a junk removal service from Kijiji, as you may end up being robbed. There are new companies that can be promising.

I recently met with a new waste removal company to determine whether I could confidently refer them to clients. The company is called Helios Services, and it is both owned and operated by Ilias Kouider. Mr. Kouider’s company performs residential and corporate waste removal. Based on my experience, this man knows what he is talking about and how to go about his business. I was impressed by what he had to say, so I placed his company in my weekly newsletter, where  I advertise services that can benefit my clients. This saves clients time, as all my supply resources are available on my website and in the newsletter.

As I have only met with Mr. Kouider and have not yet used his services, I recommend him based on our conversation. Should you use his services, please let me know how your experience goes.

‘With any junk removal service, it is wise to check their website, call references of past clients, and check their company on the REQ on the Quebec government website.’

With any junk removal service, it is wise to check their website, call references of past clients, and check their company on the REQ on the Quebec government website. Go to “Find an Enterprise” in the Enterprise Register online. This site indicates the company’s registration number, how long it has been incorporated, whether it has been closed due to bankruptcy, and the names and addresses of the owners and operators. The REQ report will indicate if the company is legitimate. The final step is to have an interview with the service, find out the cost and check the written agreement.

For reference, here is the website for the REQ and a few junk removal companies with coordinates that I have either used or interviewed with good results:

• REQ to verify companies in Quebec

Junk removal companies

• Helios Services – Ilias Kouider – 514 562-9534 – i@p-h.ca
• You Got Junk – 1-800-GOT-JUNK?
• Junk Away – 514 375-9427

Moving companies

• Bust A Move – 1-866-922-0001
• Meldrum The Mover Inc. – 514 481-1122
• AMJ Movers – 1-888-265-6683

The information in these articles is summary. Should you have questions, comments or wish to discuss further, please refer to the comments section at the bottom of the page or contact me directly. As well, to view past articles, click here.

State of the market

According to the Quebec Real Estate Board, home sales in the Montreal area decreased by 8% in November. This drop may not be a surprise, nor alarming, as many people are winding down business for the upcoming holidays and do not want to start a project until the new year.

According to Royal LePage, home prices are expected to rise in 2026, as many buyers enter the market and make a move. This would be due to increased supply, reduced demand as property values rise, and reduced competition.

‘Should global conflicts increase or escalate, chances are high that the supply chain will slow down and inflation will rise, causing carrying costs in homeownership to rise.’

This column discussed the state of the Quebec market as it is affected by global factors shaping the supply chain for goods and services to Canada. Taking into account several global factors, we can see issues emerging that could push our economy north or south. At this time, there are several that can move the needle:

• The U.S. has warships in the Caribbean and is threatening war with Venezuela
• There is no upcoming ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, with unreasonable demands by Russia and the U.S.
• Several wars in Africa, despite Trump stating that he solved those wars
• Major rift between the U.S. and Europe as Trump insults the U.S.’s long-time allies
• Changing global ties and alliances, as U.S. policy is America First, and the U.S. is no longer considered a reliable ally

Any new or ongoing war, pandemic, or other political issues will affect the supply chain, inflation, interest rates, our economy and real estate market. The issues closest to Canada, such as U.S politics and especially U.S. foreign policy, will affect our markets the quickest, which brings us to the current Quebec market and precautions. Presently, rates and inflation are low, supply is increasing, and prices are negotiable. Should global conflicts increase or escalate, the supply chain is likely to slow and inflation to rise, raising carrying costs in homeownership.

To protect yourself from creditors, save on taxes, and make certain expenses deductible, buying property through a company can have advantages. Before deciding, buyers should talk to their accountant or financial advisor to understand the pros and cons of purchasing through a corporation, holding company, or trust.

For further discussion, leave a comment or call me directly. Have a great week and happy holidays.

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Feature image: Karolina Grabowska, by Pexels

Other articles by Joseph Marovitch